As major economies impose new tariffs on imports, African nations are looking inward for protection against external shocks through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Deeper regional integration offers the continent its best defense against rising protectionism abroad.
For decades, Africa’s economies have relied on exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, a model that has left them vulnerable to global price swings and sudden trade policy shifts. The latest U.S. tariffs, reportedly as high as 50% on certain African exports, have highlighted that dependency.
In response, governments are accelerating AfCFTA’s implementation to strengthen intra-African trade as a foundation for economic resilience. “The more Africa trades with itself, the less exposed the continent is to decisions made thousands of miles away,” one official noted.
Launched in 2021, AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade agreement by membership, covering 55 countries and 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of more than $3.4 trillion. The World Bank projects it could boost intra-African trade by 81% by 2035. Even in 2024, amid global slowdowns, intra-African trade rose 12.4%, underscoring its role in cushioning external shocks.
At the Ghana Roadshow for the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Accra, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene challenged the perception that only 15% of Africa’s trade is internal.
Looking at trade between some African countries, Ghana exported GH¢3.38 billion worth of goods to Togo in 2024 while importing GH¢1.81 billion, retaining its position as a net exporter. Top exports included construction-related materials, with flat-rolled iron and steel products plated with aluminium-zinc alloys valued at GH¢363 million, or 10.7% of Ghana’s shipments to Togo.
Beyond tariffs, AfCFTA positions itself to attract investment into manufacturing, logistics, and digital trade. Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa are emerging as regional production hubs, while major infrastructure projects, from Mombasa’s port expansion to Lagos transport corridors, are strengthening trade networks. Fintech platforms are also easing cross-border payments, giving small and medium enterprises greater access to regional markets.
Challenges, however remain, including border delays, non-tariff barriers, and gaps in infrastructure and policy alignment. But analysts say the urgency of external tariff pressures is accelerating reforms that might have otherwise taken years.
By consolidating internal markets, Africa is signaling to global partners that it will not remain a passive actor in world trade. AfCFTA is emerging not just as a shield against external shocks but also as a tool to strengthen Africa’s bargaining power in future negotiations.
For the continent, the surge in global tariffs may ultimately act less as a setback than as a catalyst, pushing Africa toward long-sought resilience through regional integration.
